Medial Meniscus Transplantation and Bone-Tendon-Bone Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
The medial meniscus and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) both play a role in keeping the knee stable. When one or both structures are damaged, it causes the tibia to shift forward in relation to the femur, giving these patients a sense of instability. When reconstructing an ACL, it is important that the medial meniscus is intact and healthy to keep the knee stable and protect the new ACL while it is healing. Not doing so can cause the ACL to rupture again and can cause secondary damage to the cartilage of the knee. When the meniscus is damaged beyond repair, a surgery called a meniscal allograft transplant (MAT) can be considered. To perform this surgery, the surgeon will take the meniscus from a donor, and transplant it into the patient. The MAT surgery can be done at the same time as an ACL reconstruction to make the knee as stable as possible.
This article discusses the types of patients who would benefit from having a combined ACL reconstruction and MAT surgery, things for surgeons to consider before surgery, the steps necessary to perform the surgery, and how to rehab patients safely after the surgery. This guide serves as a template for other orthopedic surgeons around the world to follow.